Ronald McNair
1950 – 1986

Ronald McNair

American physicist, astronaut (1950-1986)

saxophonistkaratekaphysicistastronaut
Born
1950-10-21, Lake City
Died
1986-01-28
Birthplace state
South Carolina

Biography

Ronald McNair was born in Lake City, South Carolina in 1950. He worked as a physicist, astronaut, saxophonist, and karateka. On January 28, 1986, he died at age 35 during the launch of Space Shuttle Challenger on mission STS-51-L, where he served as one of three mission specialists.

Occupation

Ronald McNair is recorded as a saxophonist, a karateka, a physicist and a astronaut, born in South Carolina (1950–1986).

Connections to South Carolina

Ronald McNair was born in Lake City, South Carolina in 1950. Explore other notable figures from South Carolina, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from South Carolina›South Carolinahistory ›Historic sites in South Carolina›
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Everything a full report reveals about Lake City

Ronald McNair came from Lake City. A full Aubrey report on Lake City pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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More notable figures from South Carolina

Other historical figures born in South Carolina, ranked by historical prominence.

Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
president of the United States from 1829 to 1837
James Brown
James Brown
American musician (1933–2006)
Charles Hard Townes
Charles Hard Townes
20th-century American physicist
Chadwick Boseman
Chadwick Boseman
American actor (1976–2020)
Eartha Kitt
Eartha Kitt
American singer and actress (1927–2008)
John C. Calhoun
John C. Calhoun
vice president of the United States from 1825 to 1832 (1782–1850)
Joe Frazier
Joe Frazier
American boxer (1944–2011)

Frequently asked about Ronald McNair

Who was Ronald McNair?
Ronald McNair was American physicist, astronaut (1950-1986), born in South Carolina (1950 – 1986).
When and where was Ronald McNair born?
Ronald McNair was born on 1950-10-21 in Lake City.
When did Ronald McNair die?
Ronald died on 1986-01-28.
What was Ronald McNair known for?
Ronald McNair is recorded as a saxophonist, a karateka, a physicist and a astronaut.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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